Ahead of his Time by Adrian Cousins (children's books read aloud .txt) 📕

That’s when he leapt up, grabbed me and dragged me down into the hallway. I think he punched me in the face at that point and pinned me against the wall. He started shouting at me that I’d been on the flats’ roof the day his brother died.”

I shot Don a look. He nodded. Both of us, I was sure, were thinking the same thing.

Martin threw the blooded towel on the table. “Give us one of your cigarettes.”

I fished them out of my pocket and tossed them on the table.

“It was at that point I thought I’d better come around and see what was going on. I saw him boot and then shoulder the door in,” Don added, as Martin lit his cigarette, his hand still shaking as he tried to line up the end with the lighter flame.

“I’m surprised he didn’t wallop you as well. He didn’t I take it?”

“No, son. Time I’d found my coat and shuffled over he was coming out of the front door.”

Martin eventually managed to light the cigarette, blew out smoke to the ceiling and carried on. “The bastard kept ranting that he knew the driver of my car was at the flats that day, and I better start talking. The fucker then headbutted me! That’s when he broke my nose, I think. I told him I’d only had the car a couple of weeks, but he didn’t believe me, so he laid into me again. I managed to get a few swings at him that connected with his head, so the bastard didn’t come off scot-free.”

“So did he just leave then?”

“No … after I had landed a few punches to his face, he got the upper hand. He’s a big bloke you know.”

I touched my nose and nodded. “Yes, I know. I’ve a broken nose by his hand as well.”

“Yeah, I’m sure you have. Typical, you always have to go one better don’t you? I can't even have a broken nose on my own. For fuck sake mate, I’m the one who’s been beaten up because of what you did! It’s always the same with you, Apsley. Whatever carnage you cause, some other fucker has got to clear up the bloody mess!”

I held my hand up and shot Don a quick glance which he knew was my suggestion to be quiet as I could see he was about to tear a strip off Martin. But to be fair, Don only knew me in this life and not Jason Twat Apsley from my previous existence. Don performed his fish mouth routine, then shut up as he clocked my glance.

“Okay, sorry, mate. What happened then?”

“Well, as I said, he had the upper hand and pinned me to the floor. He wanted to know who I was and who I’d got the car from. He said if I lied, I was as good as dead. The bastard wasn’t joking!”

“Jesus! What did you tell him?”

“I told him I got it from the car-lot down the road. That’s where you sold it to, ain’t it?”

I nodded. “It is.”

“Sorry, Jason. I know that’s put you in the shit. I can hold my ground, and I don’t lose fights very often. But this bastard was going to kill me!”

I scrubbed my hands over my face. “Martin, don’t worry. We'll figure something out.”

“What we going to do, son?” Don looked concerned, and rightly so.

“I don’t know. Somehow, he’s connected me to the flats on the day David died. We thought no one saw us, but someone must have. But if they did, why didn’t they say something at the time or call the police?”

“You’re forgetting the type of person who lives up there. No one on the Broxworth talks to the Old-Bill. And if the Colney boys are involved, they all keep schtum.”

“Yeah, and to think that nutter could be my father!”

Don and I both shot Martin a look. Mine was eyes bulging, urging him to correct his time travel balls-up. Don’s was utter confusion about what he’d just said.

Martin waved his hands in the air. “What?”

“Son, what are you talking about? Paul Colney, your father … you’re older than him.”

“Martin, I think you're concussed, mate.” I nodded and raised my eyebrows, willing him to realise what he’d said.

Martin frowned as his eyes shifted back and forth between Don and me.

“Son, you okay?”

He shook his head, blinked and looked down at the table. “Yeah, sorry, I must have got confused for a moment. Maybe I am concussed.”

Nicole opened the kitchen door and stepped up to Martin. “I don’t think you’ve got concussion. Let me look at you again.” She turned his head in her hands and stared into his eyes. “Is your vision blurred? Do you feel dizzy?”

“No. no, I’m okay.”

“Okay. I think perhaps up to bed for a while is what is needed.”

“Now you’re talking, girl,” he grinned and grabbed her jean-clad bottom.

“There’s nothing wrong with him!”

34

Black Queen

Nicole said she could stay, as her kids were at her mother’s for the evening. I guessed Martin’s planned night of frolicking with his newly acquired nurse friend wasn’t going to pan out as he’d hoped.

Don and I decamped back to his house to leave Martin and Nicole to do whatever. And to think only yesterday, he was enjoying the delights which Randy-Mandy had to offer – he really was quite unbelievable. I wondered what Nicole would make of his tattoos if she was given the opportunity to see them. As I was starting to get to know Martin better, I was in no doubt he would make every effort to ensure she did.

Don produced two glasses of whisky. I ensured mine was a small one after the pint in the pub. All I needed now was to get breathalysed, and the day would just be perfect.

“What we going to do, Don? Colney ain’t going to stop until he finds me.” I performed an involuntary shudder at the thought.

“Not sure at the moment. One thing for certain, he’ll want to